Body restrainer



Aug. 9, 1960 P. TOPA 2,948,278

' BODY RESTRAINER Filed June 10, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Tnzul.

INVENTOR ETE/P 75px ATTO NEY g- 1960 P. TOPA 2,948,278

' BODY RESTRAINER Filed June 10, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 1 57a?75pm ATTORNEY United States Patent BODY RESTRAINER Peter Topa, 39Sargent St., Hartford, Conn.

Filed June 10, 1958, Ser. No. 741,081

7 Claims. (Cl. 1281'34) This invention relates to body restrainers forthe treatment or management of neurotic and violent patients inhospitals, mental institutions, and the like, and for the transportationof such patients in ambulances and the like.

The present invention constitutes an improvement upon the bodyrestrainers described and claimed in my previous United States PatentNo. 2,766,751, issued October In attempting to secure a. violent patientinto 'ahody restrainer such as that disclosed in the above mentionedpatent, the patient may act with such violence by-thrashing around hisarms and legs, that it is extremely 'difficult to fold the bodyrestrainer around'him and thereafter to bind the straps. bodyrestrainer, the patient may continue to thrash around with both his legsand body in such a manner as to cause himself and the attendantsconsiderable bodily harm.

According to the present invention, I provide means forquicklyenclosin'g the patient into a' shoulder-to-toe enclosure which,while it does not completely restrain-all motions of'the patient,nevertheless permits the'attendants to proceed undisturbed in" wrappingthe final binding around the patient and securing the belts andshackles.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a bodyrestrainer which'satisfies medical requirements for the safety andcomfort of the patient, while providing a safety factor for thoseattendants, orderlies and nurses who are required to handle him.

The invention comprises 'g'enerally'a rectangular sheet of strong canvasorthe like, into which the patient is ultimately rolled and fastened,said sheet extending generally from'the shoulders of the patient down toat least the knees or below the knees. Additionally, the inner surfaceof the sheet is provided witha coat-like, sleeveless to approximatelyjust below the knees of the patient.

Still other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent fromthe specification; 7

The features of novelty which 'I believe to be characteristic of myinvention are set forth herein and will best be understood, both as totheir fundamental principles. and as to their particular embodiments, byreference to the specification and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a plan view of the interior of the body re-' strainershowing the coat-like inner garment attached thereto, some parts beingshown in phantom outline;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the body restrainer showinga patientenclosed in the coat-like garment;

. Fig.3 is an end view of the body restrainer, taken in the direction ofthe arrow in Fig. 2;

Often after having been bound in the.

Fig. 4 is a section view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a side perspective view of a patient enclosed completely inboth the inner garment as Well as the complete body restrainer;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing a modification of the innergarment; and

Fig. 7 is a plan view similar to Fig. 1, showing the body restrainer asconstructed in the embodiment of Fig. 6.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the body restrainer of thepresent invention comprises a large rectangular sheet, generallydesignated 12, made of strong, woven canvas, or the like. In someembodiments the fabric may be made of rubberized cloth or rubbersheeting, or any other suitable flexible but strong material;

In order to add strength to the restraining device, there is insertedinto each of 'a number of spaced apart, parallel, elongated pockets 15extending across the width dimension of sheet 12, a slat 16 which may bemade of a thin flexibleandresilient material, such as wood, steel,plastic or the like, said slats serving to maintain the body of thepatient in-a generally straightened position, and to prevent him frommaking any excessive movement within the restraining sheet.

A series of spaced apart elongated straps 17 are attached by sewing,stapling or the like, to the exterior surface of sheet 12 at points 18,said straps extending substantially perpendicularly to slats 16, andcooperating with respective cinch buckles 21 which are attached bysuitable means to the exterior surface of sheet 12 at 1' points 18.

- being arrayed at the back portion of the garment.

' remainder ofgarment 22 comprises a pair of opposing be coextensivewith the body restrainer itself and extend panels 24 and 25 which can becombined to encircle the body ofthe patient.

Garment 22 has a pair of shoulder portions 26 which surround a neckopening 27. The opposing elongated edges of panels 24 and 25 of garment22 are each provided with suitable slide fastener hooks 28 which arecaused to interlock with each other by means of slide fastener element29. In some embodiments, a flap 31 of suitable fabric such as canvas,felt, cotton or the like,

may be sewn to the neck portion 27 to extend loosely over slide fastenerelement 29 in order to protect the patient therefrom. The bottom edgesof garment 22 may also be provided with slide fastening hook elements32, which can be secured together by means of slide fastener element 33which is drawn from the bottom of the sheet at the heels of the patientto the toes thereof.

While in some embodiments that portion of garment 22 extending from theshoulders to the legs may be made of a unitary sheet of canvas or thelike, Figs. 1and 4 show that said garment may be made of two separateunits making'up panels 24 and 25 which are joined together by a doublestitched seam 34 or the like.

When it is desired to enclose a patient into the body restrainer, theopposing edges of panels 24 and 25 are spread out apart from each other,and the patient is laid into the center thereof. The two panels arequickly brought together, slide fastener element 29 is adjusted to paneledges together, enclosing the body, arms and legs 3 of the patient.Thereafter, the bottom slide fastener 33 is operated to enclose the feetof the patient, while his head protrudes from the neck portion thereof.Then the ends of sheet '12 are folded over the garment enclosed body asshown in Fig. 5, and straps 17 are inserted through and engaged bycorresponding buckles -21 to the extent necessary to render the patientimmobile. By this means the patient is completely enclosed in arestraining garment which ensures him from bodily harm and also protectsthe attendants from any violence in thrashing about and kicking.

In some cases it is desirable or necessary to administer stimulants orsedatives by injection to the patient while bound in the bodyrestrainer. For that purpose there is provided in panel 25 a slit 35which is opened and closed by means of a slide fastener 36 (Fig. 2) Alsoin sheet 12 there is provided a slit 37 which is opened and closed bymeans of a slide fastener 38 (Figs. 2 and S). Slits 35' and 37 arearrayed in such a manner that they are posit'ioned sufliciently close toeach other when the patient is wrapped completely in the restraininggarment so that access to the patient may be had through both slits atthe same time. It is also apparent that injections may be administeredto the patient through slit 35 prior to his being bound in sheet 12'(Fig. 2).

Additionally, there may be provided two pairs of hand loops 41 that aresecured by sewing or stapling to the outer surface of sheet 12 wherebythe patient may be carried by attendants in the completely wrappedandbound condition (Figs. 3 and In some cases it is possible to dispensewith binding the lower legs of the patient, and the body restrainer maytake the form shown in Figs. 6 and 7, in which the lower portion of theinner coat-like garment, generally desig nated 42, is substantiallycoextensive with the lower edge of sheet 12, whereby the patient isbound from the neck down to just below the knees, leaving the patientfree to walk, provided he is sufficient tractable" for that purpose.

Although the inner coat-like garment is shown in the drawings asextending up to and around the neck of the patient, it is understoodthat said garment may otherwise extend only to the shoulders or thetorso of the patient to a sufficient extent whereby the arms of thepatient may be constrained against the patients body after being securedin said garment.

The slide fastening element 29 may perform its closing function upon theedges of panels 24 and 25 in both directions relative to the dispositionof the patients body within garment 22, starting either from the bottomto the top, or starting from the top to the bottom, of the garment.

In the specification, I have explained the principles of my invention,and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying thoseprinciples, so as to distinguish my invention from other inventions; andI have particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed the pare-mode orcombination which I claim as my invention or discovery.

While I have shown and described certain preferred embodiments of myinvention, it will be understood that modifications and changes may bemade without departing from the function and scope thereof, as will beclear to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A body restrainer comprising a fabric sheet adapted to-be wrappedaround a persons body, a coat-like garment attached to the inner surfaceof said sheet, a pair ofopposing panels on said garment extending fromthe neck of the person to the feet thereof, a slide fastener adapted tosecure said opposing panels together over the body prior to wrappingsaid sheet around said garment, and a plurality of spacedapartsubstantially parallel-straps secured to the outer surface of said sheetand extending laterally across said sheet, said strapsbeing-positionedto 4 encircle and bind the body of the person after saidsheet has been wrapped around the fastened garment.

2. A body restrainer comprising a fabric sheet adapted to be wrappedaround a persons body, a coat-like garment attached to the inner surfaceof said sheet, a pair of opposing panels on said garment extending fromthe neck of the person to the feet thereof, a slide fastener adapted tosecure said opposing panels together over the body prior to wrappingsaid sheet around said body, a slit in one of said panels, a slidefastener for opening and closing saidslit, a second slit in said sheet,and a slide fastener for opening and closing said second slit, both ofsaid slits being positioned near each other when the person is enclosedin both the garment and said sheet whereby access is obtained to thebody of the person through said sheet and garment.

3. A body restrainer comprising a fabric sheet adapted to be wrappedaround a persons body, a coat-like garment attached to the inner surfaceof said sheet, a pair of opposing panels on said garment extending fromthe shoulders of the person to the legs thereof, a slide fasteneradapted to secure said opposing panels together over the body prior towrapping said sheet around said garmerit, and a plurality of spacedapart straps secured to the outer surface of said sheet and extending insubstantially parallel array perpendicularly in respect of the body ofthe person secured therein, said straps being arranged to encircle andsecure the body enclosed in said garment and sheet.

4. A body restrainer comprising a' fabric sheet adapted to be wrappedaround a persons body, a coat-like garment attached to the inner surfaceof said sheet, a pair of opposing panels on said garment extending fromthe shoulders of the person to the legs thereof, a slide fasteneradapted to secure said opposing panels together over the body prior towrapping said sheet around said garment, a slot in at least one of saidpanels of said garment; and a slot in said sheet, both of said slotsbeing substantially aligned with each other when the body is wrappedinzboth the garment and said sheet, whereby access may be had to thebody from outside the restrainer.

5. A body restrainer comprising a fabric sheet adapted to be wrappedaround a persons body, a coat-like garment attached to the inner surfaceof said sheet, a pair of opposing panels on said garment extending fromthe shoulders of the person to the legs thereof, a slide fasteneradapted to secure said opposing panels together over the body prior towrapping said sheet around said garment, a slot inat least one of saidpanels of said garment, a slide fastener for opening and closing saidslot, a slot in said sheet,- and a slide fastener for open ing andclosing said slot in said'sheet, both of said slots being substantiallyaligned with each other when the body is wrapped in both the garment andsaid sheet, whereby access may be had to the body from outside therestrainer.

6. A body restrainer comprising a fabric sheet adapted to be wrappedaround a persons body, a coat-like garment attached-to the inner surfaceof said sheet, said garment being adapted'to enclose said'body and atleast a portion of the'legs of the person, a pair of opposing panels onsaid garment, the edges of said panels extend- 'mg longitudinally ofthepersons body, a slide fastener forsecuring said'opposing panelstogether over the body and legs prior to wrapping said sheet around saidgarment, and a plurality of spaced apart straps secured to theoutersurface of; said sheet and extending in substantially parallel arrayperpendicularly in respect of said body, said straps being positioned toencircle and secure the body enclosed in said garment and saidsheet.

7. A body restrainer comprising a fabric sheet adapted to be wrappedaround'a personsf body,'a coat-like garment attached to? the innersurface of said sheet, said garment"being-adaptedto enclose'said bodyand the legs 5 V and feet of the person, a pair of opposing panels onsaid of said body, said straps being positioned to encircle and garment,the edges of said panels extending longitudisecure the body enclosed insaid garment and said sheet. nally of the persons body, a first slidefastener for securing said opposing panels Joggther overd the dbody andReferences Cited in the file of this patent egs prior to wrapping sai seet aroun sai garment, 5 a second slide fastener for securing saidopposing panels UNITED STATES PATENTS over said feet, and a plurality ofspaced apart straps se- 1,964,271 ODwyer June 26, 1934 cured to theouter surface of said sheet and extending 2,530,464 Hamon Nov. 21, 1950in substantially parallel array perpendicularly in respect 2,579,276Schworm Dec, 18, 1951

